News

University congratulates bionic ear pioneer on award of PM’s Science Prize

Media Release, Wednesday 8 September 2004

Professor James Angus, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne, today congratulated Professor Graeme Clark on the award of the Prime Minister’s Science Prize.

“It is an extremely fitting celebration of the excellence and international standing of Professor Clark’s research over many decades,” Professor Angus said.

“As one of the earliest inventors, investigators and implementers of cochlear implantation and the bionic ear, Professor Clark has been a true pioneer of hearing technology for profoundly deaf people. He has also been a champion of deaf people, particularly children.

"Graeme Clark's contribution to medical science in Australia and internationally over many years has been outstanding and has resulted in an enormous improvement to the quality of life of many thousands of patients worldwide.”

In 1999, the University of Melbourne appointed Graeme Clark as one of its inaugural Laureate Professors, an honour reserved for the very best and most distinguished of its academic staff.

Earlier this year, Professor Clark resigned as Professor of Otolaryngology at the University of Melbourne to become full-time Director of the Bionic Ear Institute. He remains a Laureate Professorial Fellow in the University.

Professor Clark has received many accolades during his career including: Fellowship of the Royal Society, honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the University of Melbourne's Sir William Upjohn Medal for medical research, and honorary doctorates from universities in Australia, China and Germany.

For more information on the Prime Minister’s Science Prize and Professor Clark visit: http://dest.gov.au/scienceprize and http://www.scienceinpublic.com/